Feed-bag.



No. 771,741.. PATENTED 00114, 1904.

l T. W. MGMANUS.

FEED BAG.

APPLICATION FILED APR 11. 1904.

UNITED STATES Patented October 4, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FEED-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 771,741, dated October4, 1904.

.T0 all whom. t may 0011.130777,.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. MoMANUs, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the countyof New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed-Bags; and 1 dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it-appertains to make and use the same.` A

My invention is an improved feed-bag for horses and -other animalsadapted to automaticallykcep the food at all times in proper relation tothe animals mouth, so as to enable the animal to readily reach itscontents, and also provided with means to prevent the spilling outandwasting of the feed in the event that the animal should raise his headwhile eating.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, an d combination of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly insection, of a feedbag vrembodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is partly atop plan view and partly a section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view.

My improved feed-bag 1, which may be made of canvas or any othersuitable material, is of the usual inverted truncated conical form. andits rear portion is inclined upwardly and rearwardly, as at 2, andprovided with a fabric 3, stretched across the rear upper side of thefeed-bag to form a pocket to prevent spilling ofthe contents of thefeed-bag when the animal raises his head. One side of the said fabric 3is shaped, as at 4, to adapt it to t snugly against the animals rearjaw. This fabric is somewhat elastic or yielding to avoid discomfort tothe animal and to enable it to fit animals which vary in size.

On opposite sides of the feed-bag are vertical guideways 5, which may bemade of leather, heavy canvas, or other comparatively infiexiblematerial. The said guideways are secured on theouter side of thefeed-bag and are rectangular in cross-section and provided with sides 6,which bear against the feed-bag. These guideways reinforce the feed-bagand greatly strengthen the same and are closed at Application filedApril 11, 1904. Serial No. 202,696. (No model.)

their upper ends, their upper ends being provided at their centers withopenings 7 of suitable siZe. The lower ends of the guideways are open topermit the free discharge of feed or dirt that may drop into them. Aventilator 8 is here shown in one side of the feed-bag at a suitabledistance from the bottom thereof.

In the guideways and housed thereby are springs 9, which are here shownas coiled eX- tensile springs, a plurality of the said springs being ineach of the said guideways. The lower ends of the springs in eachguideway are secured to a yoke 10, which is secured to the bottom of theguideway, and the upper ends of the said springs are secured to fenderguides or yokes 11, which are adapted to travel vertically in theguideways. The ends of the said fender-yokes project beyond the saidsprings laterally and are curved to reduce friction between them and thesides of the guideways. These fender yokes or guides serve to preventthe springs from coming in contact with the guideways or with the sidesof the feed-bag and prevent them from wearing the said guides or thefabric of which the feed-bag is composed. Each of the said fender yokesor guides is provided with an eye 12 for the attachment of the lower endof a rod, rope, or strap 13. Said rods, ropes, or straps are provided attheir upper ends with eyes 14, to which are attached the ends of a headstrap, cord, or rope 15. The same is detachable from the eye of one ofthe said rods and may be adjusted any length, so as to suspend thefeed-bag initially at any desired height with reference to the head ofthe animal.

The weight of the feed in the bag causes the springs to extend, so as tobring the upper surface of the feed just within reach of the animal andprevent his muzzle from being buried therein. As the feed is consumedthe springs contract, and hence serve to raise the bag, so that the feedis at all times kept within reach of the animal until it is entirelyconsumed. No adjustment whatever is required after the feed-bag has beenonce properly suspended from the animals head. Should the animalraisehis head, as when he is annoyed by a fly or for any other reason,the fabric 3 and the pocket formed thereby at the rear upper side o'lthe feed-bag prevent any of the Yfeed from being spilled out.

Rubber or any other suitable form of springs may be employed within thescope of my invention, and any suitable number of the springs may beemployed.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the inventionwill be readily understood without requiring a more extendedexplanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle orsacriicing any or' the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

A feedbag having relatively inflexible guideways at its sides, aplurality of springs in cach of said guideways, secured at their lowerends, and Jr`ender-guides adapted to travel vertically in saidguidevvays and each secured to the upper ends ot' one of the groups ofsprings, said tender-guides projecting laterally beyond the springs toprevent the latter from coming in contact With the sides of theguideways, having said projecting portions turned and curved to reducefriction between them and the guideways and being further provided withmeans for the attachment ot' supporting devices thereto, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereot` I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

, THOMAS W. MCMANUS. I/Vitnesses:

ALBERT C. METRAL, NICHOLAS I. McMANUs.

